Olson Book: Ex-Nun Alone Held Clinton Accountable

If not for an African-American former Catholic nun from Arkansas, ex-president Clinton wouldn't been punished at all for repeatedly perjuring himself before Independent Counsel Ken Starr's Monica Lewinsky grand jury, late heroine-author Barbara Olson reveals in her new book, "The Final Days."

Despite Clinton's blatant lawbreaking, Starr's successor Robert Ray was hoping to avoid any prosecution of the ex-president, says Olson.

"Ray wanted to settle, but the Arkansas bar wanted to disbar Clinton for false testimony."

As Ray and Clinton's lawyer David Kendall finalized their negotiations in the White House Map Room on Christmas Day, Olson says Clinton "sat with a frozen grin on his face" -- an apparent indication of his delight over Ray's kid glove treatment.

The only remaining fly in the ointment was Marie-Bernarde Miller, the 48-year-old African-American ex-nun appointed to prosecute Clinton before the Arkansas bar. Miller would have to sign off on any "no-trial" deal.

Right from the start, the former member of the order of Religious Sisters of Mercy showed him that she was no easy mark.

"Miller was not about to be pushed around by Clinton's emissary," Olson wrote, "who she kept waiting for hours while she and her colleagues hashed out the matter."

"Then Miller laid down the law to Kendall. To join the plea bargain offer in this case, Bill Clinton had to accept a five-year suspension of his license to practice law in Arkansas and pay legal fees of $25,000."

"Second," said Olson, Miller insisted that "Clinton would have to acknowledge that he knowingly violated a judge's order to tell the truth" -- a stipulation apparently absent from the agreement Kendall hashed out with Independent Counsel Ray.

In marked contrast to his "frozen grin" reaction to Ray's plea deal, Olson says "Clinton was furious" and "white hot with rage" over Miller's terms.

But he "nonetheless knew it was an offer he could not refuse.... He just couldn't stand to be disbarred.... up there with Richard Nixon."

Reading the statement Clinton signed announcing Robert Ray's deal not to prosecute, it's apparent that Marie-Bernarde Miller -- and not the independent counsel -- was the driving force behind the disciplinary action.

"Today I signed a consent order in the lawsuit brought by the Arkansas Committee on Professional Conduct, which brings to an end that proceeding. I have accepted a five-year suspension of my law license, agreed to pay a $25,000 fine to cover counsel fees, and acknowledged a violation of one of Arkansas model rules for professional conduct..... The disbarment suit will now be dismissed."

Throughout the rest of Clinton's statement, released nine days after Miller faced down Kendall, the ex-president made only one reference to any punishment from Ray.

"I will not to seek any any legal fees incurred as a result of the Lewinsky investigation, to which I might otherwise become entitled under the Independent Counsel Act."

Barbara Olson's account makes it clear that, but for one courageous ex-nun from Arkansas, Bill Clinton would have walked away from the Independent Counsel's investigation without a single other sanction.

After Bush took Office, Jon Turley said ''no lawyer will prosecute clinton because no one wants to be the next Ken Starr''
When Bob Ray accepted the job, he was willing to be the next Ken Starr
He said ''I know they'll put me thru everything Starr was put thru, but the principle 'No man is above the Law is worth it'''
He said ''my dad was in Vietnam and told me what went on there -- whatever they do to me, it can't be as bad as that''

He had been planning to Indict slick a month after he was out of Office
and just before the election, he said ''a lot hinges on the election''
(I was already campaigning unceasingly for George, after Ray said that, I campaigned unceasingly for GOP Congress -- so Ray would have the backing he needed)

However, the instant Gore conceded for real, and George was President-elect, GOP leadership was all over TV telling George to Pardon slick
and I bet behind the scenes the power brokers of GOP were pressuring Ray to deal -- to give George a fresh start for his administration
When Ray realized no Democrat and no Republican wanted him to prosecute slick -- he no longer wanted to continue

The principle that ''no man is above the Law'' is dead
It was courageous and trustworthy for the GOPers (and the 5 Democrats in the House) to vote to Impeach and Remove slick when he was in power
Our Republic would not have been saved without it
But we would have arrived at a new glorious level -- if the GOP had put principle first when George was in power
Love, Palo

Henry Hyde's magnificent Impeachment awoke all my idealism
George's decision not to investigate and prosecute the clinton corruption put it to sleep again
but things will never be the same
having experienced inspiration and idealism
I won't live without it now
and in one way or another
I expect our sweet Republic to arrive at its destination
and fulfill all the dreams our Forfathers wanted for her
George's decisions now are merely the resistance
which will makes us soar even higher in the end
There's no going back
Love, Palo

clinton is pure evil.

He's an arrogant slithering glob of slime!
And those that blindly supported him and his old lady and are still at his beck and call are of the same calibre.

DON'T HUNCH DOWN, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND SO DO WE!!

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